ROCKFORD — When Seth Rivard and his partners opened Rockford Brewing Co. in 2012 along the White Pine Trail about 15 miles north of Grand Rapids, they turned to a federal lending program that backs bank loans for small businesses.

Here is the MiBiz Growth Report for April 17, 2017.

• M&A: Dallas-based America’s Auto Auction has acquired West Michigan Auto Auction of Wayland and Parma-based Interstate 94 Vehicle Auction as part of the company’s larger acquisition strategy. The Texas company closed on the deal April 1. Both West Michigan Auto Auction and Interstate 94 Vehicle Auction were owned by Carl Miskotten, who will remain as the general manager of both facilities, according to a report in Auto Remarketing. Prior to the deal, America’s Auto Auction acquired seven facilities from Baton Rouge, La.-based Auction Broadcasting Co. in January 2017. The company operates a total of 21 auction locations across the U.S. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

On April 21, 7 Monks Taproom on Michigan Street will open its doors to the public at 4 p.m.

The list of most-read stories on MiBiz.com for the first half of 2016 has a decidedly real estate and retail-related theme.  

Here is the MiBiz Growth Report for May 16, 2016: 

• M&A: Indianapolis-based The XLerate Group, a portfolio company of Detroit-based private equity firm Huron Capital Partners LLC, has acquired Jenison-based Grand Rapids Auto Auction. The deal represents the second acquisition in a year for The XLerate Group, which acquired Schoolcraft-based Greater Kalamazoo Auto Auction in May 2015. XLerate provides dealer-to-dealer auto auctions for used vehicles. Grand Rapids Auto Auction, located at 2380 Port Sheldon Ct., provides used vehicle remarketing to fleet and leasing companies and dealers in Michigan, Illinois and Ohio. Terms of the deal were undisclosed. Through the acquisition, XLerate now has local auto auctions that operate 17 physical and mobile sites in Michigan, South Carolina, California, Texas, Wisconsin and Florida.

Traverse City-based craft beer bar and restaurant 7 Monks Taproom has unveiled plans for a Grand Rapids location along the growing Michigan Street corridor.